Display and dispensing apparatus for flat articles



Sept. 25, y1962 T. GENSER ET AL DISPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed March s. 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Y ZTL/5000,66 6km/,56e

Sept. 25, 1962 T. GENsER ET AL 3,055,545

l DISPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed March 3, 1959 '7 SheeLS-Shee'l 2 FIG. 5 Z

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DTSPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed March 5. 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 25, 1962 T. Gr-:NsER ET AL 3,055,545

DISPLAY AND nIsPENsING APPARATUS PoR PLAT ARTICLES 'T Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5, 1959 Sept. 25, 1962v T; GENSER ETAL DISPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed MaIGh 3, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 25, 1962 T. Gr-:Nsl-:R ETAL DISPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed March 3, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV EN TORS Z/Eaooef GEA/sae 2 ,J @y y, d

Kev/var Menos/rae, BY Maffay .5.' 5v/N Sept. 25, 1962 T. GENSER ET AL 3,055,545

' DISPLAY AND DISRENSTNG APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Filed March 3, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TORS f/Eaoaee GEA/See United States Patent 3,055,545 DISPLAY AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLAT ARTICLES Theodore Genser, Newark, Kenneth Kraemer, Metuclien,

and Morton S. Levin, Little Falls, NJ., assgnors, by

mesne assignments, to Williams Electronic Manufacturing Corp., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 794,362 11 Claims. (Cl. 221-126) The present invention relates to automatic dispensing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for displaying and discharging substantially at articles of like or different dimensions (for example, height or thickness).

It is one of the primary objects of the invention to provide means facilitating the disposition of books and like articles in row formations in display racks, whereby the respective selected article before being displaced and discharged from the respective rack may first be perceived through a window of and from without the apparatus and after having been discharged will be automatically replaced by another article for display.

It is another object of the invention to provide means affording automatic replenishment of a rack displaying a plurality of rows of articles, as soon as one of said articles is removed from said rack to thereby initiate a predetermined cycle of operation.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of means facilitating easy and reliable operation of the apparatus of the aforesaid type, which requires a minimum of surveillance and may be equipped with substantially standard parts and elements considerably reducing the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.

The above and other objects of the invention will become further `apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

FIG. l is a front view, in elevation, of a book vending apparatus pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus, with parts removed for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to FIG. 3 with the parts shown in another position thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of another embodiment of the book vending apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, a movable frame being illustrated in broken line;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view taken in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. ll is one of variously possible electrical wiring diagrams of the embodiment of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 6 to l0.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front elevation of the vending apparatus of FIG. 6 with external selector mechanism and coin slots.

Referring now to FIGS. l through 5 of the drawings in detail, there is shown a book vending apparatus 20 pursuant to the present invention. The apparatus comprises a cabinet Z2 provided with an enclosed base 24 which mounts a housing 26. The housing 26 is provided 5 shaped members,

ice

with opposing side walls 28-30, a top wall 32 and a bottom wall 34. An inner wall 36 defines a wire trough 38 with the side wall 30. The front of housing 26 is closed by a transparent wall 40, preferably formed of glass, and the rear thereof may be closed by a suitable removable closure or wall which is not illustrated. As best seen in FIG. 3, the lower wall 34 terminates inwardly of the front glass wall 40 to define a discharge opening 42 through which a selected book is discharged onto a delivery shelf 44 which depends from wall 34. The trough 38 is closed, at the front thereof, by a panel 46 which is provided with push-button selectors 48 and a coin insertion slot 50. A pair of spaced parallel Walls 52 and 54 extend between the confronting walls 28 and 36, with the wall 52 being disposed between the wall 54 and the glass front 40. Four equally spaced walls 56, 58, 60 and 62 extend upwardly from the lower wall 34 `and between the walls 52 and 54 to dene the three inner enclosed areas 64, 66 and 68, and with the outer Walls 28 `and 36, the two outer enclosed areas 70 and 72, as best shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that each enclosed area extends vertically between the upper and lower walls 32 and 34 and is bounded at opposite sides thereof by the transverse walls 52 and 54.

In the present embodiment, each vertically extending area is subdivided into four vertically stacked subdivided tareas A1, A2, A3 and A4 by confronting U-shaped members 74-76 which extend transversely of and are mounted by the laterally spaced walls 52-54.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the lowermost pair of members 74-76 are mounted above the lower wall 34 to define each subdivided area A4 of the associated general area 64, 66, 68, 70 or 72, -as the case may be. The subdivided area A3 of each associated general area is defined by said lowermost pair of members 74-76 and the pair of members 74A-76A mounted above said lowermost pair. The subdivided area A2 of each associated general area is defined by said pair of members 74A76A and a pair of members 74E-76B. The uppermost subdivided area A1 of each associated general area is defined by said pair of members 74B--76B and by the uppermost pair of members 74C-76C.

The upper arm of each U-shaped member is designated by the reference numeral 78 and the lower arm by the reference numeral 80, the space between the confronting arms of each pair of U-shaped members being designated by the numeral 82 (see FIG. 2).

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each subdivided area A1, A2 and A3, and an additional subdivided area A5 between the upper wall 32 and each set of U-shaped members 74C-76C constitutes a book storage area or magazine for a stack of books or flat articles B. 'Ihe lowermost book B1 in each stack rests on the upper surfaces of the upper arms 78--78 of each pair of U- It will be noted that each U-shaped member extends through a horizontal opening or slot 84 in the rear wall 54 and an aligned slot 86 in the companion wall 52. The slot 84 is dimensioned relative to the associated upper arm 78 so as to prevent the passage of the lowermost book B1 of the associated stack therethrough.

However, the slot 86 is of larger dimension so as to permit the lowermost book to pass therethrough as hereinafter described in detail.

The lower arms of each pair of U-shaped members mount a book ejector assembly 88 operable to remove the lowermost book in each stack. Each ejector assembly 88, as here shown, comprises a front plate 90 and a rear plate 92. (See FIG. 4).

Each of said plates is grooved, as at 94, in its opposite side edges so that it is adapted to receive the confronting free edges of the lower arms 80 of each pair of U-shaped members as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, for relative reciprocatory movement therealong. Each plate 90 is provided at the forward edge thereof with a pusher member 96 which is mounted by a pivot 98 for pivotal movement to and from the full and broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 4. A tension spring 100 connected between the pusher 96 and a tie pin 102 provided on the plate 90 biases the pusher member against a detent 104 to maintain the pusher in the erect or full line position thereof. Adjacent the rear edges thereof, each plate 90 is provided with an aperture 106 defined therein. The rear plate 92 of the slide or ejector assembly 88 mounts a pivoted catch or hook S, as at 110. The free or hooked end 112 of the catch is adapted to engage in the aperture 106. The catch is also provided with a depending finger 114 which extends through an opening 116 dened in the plate 92. The finger has a tapered edge 118 which cooperates with a tapered end 120 provided in the armature 122 of a solenoid 124, as hereinafter described in detail.

In order to reciprocate a selected ejector assembly to discharge a book from the associated stack, provision is made for a motor operated drive mechanism generally designated by the reference numeral 126. The drive mechanism comprises a motor 128 mounted on the lower Wall 34. The motor shaft is coupled to both a sprocket wheel 130 and a crank 132. A sprocket chain 134, driven by the sprocket wheel 130,drives a second sprocket wheel 136 which, in turn, drives a second crank 138 at the same speed as the crank 132. The crank 132 is associated with the various ejector assemblies in the general area 70 and is provided with an offset portion 140 for each of said ejector assemblies. A link 142 interconnects each offset portion and the rear plate 92 of the associated ejector assembly. The second crank 138 is associated with the ejector assemblies of the general area 64 being similarly provided with the offsets 140 which are interconnected by the links 142 to the rear plates 92 of the associated ejector assemblies. Moreover, it will be noted, as best shown in FIG. 5, that the adjacent rear plates 92 are interconnected by cross-bars 144, whereby it will be apparent that the drive mechanism by effecting rotation of both cranks 132 and 136 is operable to effect the concomitant reciprocation of all the rear plate members 92.

Provision is made for a book holder assembly 144 which is mounted on the wall 52 below each discharge opening 86 therein. Each assembly 144 comprises a tilted base 146 which is enclosed by a transparent cover 148 through which is visible the book which is mounted on the base. The cover is open at its upper end, as at 150 so that a book ejected from the companion stack can fall onto the base through said open end. The cover is closed at its sides and at its bottom end 152 so as to retain the book on the tilted base. The cover is pivoted, as at 154, and is operable from its full to its broken line position, as shown in FIG. 3, by operation of a relay 156, mounted on the base 146 as shown. The armature 158 of the relay is connected by a pivoted link 160 to the cover, as at 162.

Consequently, operation of the relay 156 will cause the cover to be pivoted to its broken line position whereby the book on the base 146 will drop, as indicated by arrow 164 through the discharge opening 42 onto the shelf 44.

The wiring diagram for the apparatus herein disclosed is shown and later referred to with respect to FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10 in detail there is shown a book vending apparatus 300 pursuant to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. The apparatus comprises an open frame work support 302 on which there is mounted a stationary frame assembly 304 and a movable frame assembly 306. The support 302 is closed at the front thereof by a transparent window 308, preferably formed of glass. It will be understood that the sides and rear of the support 302 are enclosed by a suitable cabinet or housing which is not illustrated.

The stationary frame 304 is provided with a bottom wall 310, a top wall 312 and opposing side walls 314 and 316. Four interior equally spaced Walls 318, 320, 322 and 324 extend between the top and bottom walls parallel to the opposing side walls to define the five vertically extending areas 326, 328, 330, 332 and 334 which are enclosed at the opposite sides thereof, as Well as at the tops and bottoms thereof. As in the prior embodiment, each vertically extending area is subdivided into areas A1, A2, A3 and A4 by confronting angle members 336-338 which extend transversely of and are mounted by the laterally spaced walls which define each vertical area.

For example, in the case of vertical area 334, wall 316 mounts the angles 338 and wall 324 mounts the angles 336 to define the vertically stacked subareas A1, A2, A3 and A4. In addition to the transversely extending angle members, provision is also made for the confronting angle members 340-342 which extend vertically of the walls for example, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 8, the angle members 340 on walls 314 and 318 confront companion angle members 342 on walls 318 and 320, respectively. It will be apparent that each subarea A1, A2, A3 and A4 in each general area 326, 328, 330, 332 and 334 defines a magazine or storage area for a stack of books B, so that in the illustrated embodiment provision is made for a total of twenty stacks of books. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 the lowest books in each stack rests on a pair of confronting transverse angles 336-338 with a pair of confronting vertical angles 340-342 serving as back-stops or detent members for each stack of books.

Provision is made for a plurality of rods 344 mounted in vertically aligned relation by the walls 314, 318, 320, 322, 324 and 316, said rods passing through said walls. The uppermost rod 344 is outwardly of and below the book stacks in subarea A1, with each lower rod similarly mounted outwardly of and below the book stacks in an associated horizontal row of subareas, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 7.

Each rod 344 serves to mount a horizontally extending shelf 346 which has an inclined portion 348 forwardly of the associated rod and a depending portion 350 rearwardly of the associated rod. The portion 348 is provided with cutouts 352 to accommodate the inner walls 318, 320, 322 and 324 and a tab 354 depends from the portion 348 into each cutout. A transparent cover 148, previously described is provided for each stack of books, below the latter, on the associated shelf 346, being provided with an upper end opening to allow a book ejected from the companion stack to fall on the associated shelf within the confines of the cover. The cover is pivoted as at 154, on an associated tab 354 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the prior embodiment, by operation of a relay 156 mounted on the shelf portion 348. The armature 158 of the relay is connected by the pivoted link 160 to the cover as at 162, to open the cover upon energization of the relay, as previously described, whereby a book on the shelf portion 348, within the pivoted cover, will drop onto the delivery shelf 44 mounted by a pair of opposing side struts 356 on the support frame work 302.

In order to discharge a book from a selected stack, provision is made for the previously mentioned movable frame assembly 306.

Frame assembly 306 comprises the opposing side walls 358-358, an upper wall 360 and ya plurality of cross bars 362, extending between the side Walls 358. A pair of brackets 364 depend from the side walls and mount transverse member 366 provided with a pair of closed slots 368, as best shown in FIG. l0. In order to effect horizontal reciprocation of the movable frame `assembly 306 provision is made for a motor operated drive assembly 370. The drive assembly comprises the motor 372 mounted on the bottom wall 310 of the stationary frame assembly 306. The motor drives a first offset crank 374 and a sprocket wheel 376 which, in turn, drives a sprocket chain 378, and the latter drives a second sprocket wheel 380 provided on a second olset crank 376 journalled in a bearing 382 mounted on wall 310. The free ends of cranks 374 and 376 ride in the closed slots 368 whereby rotation of the cranks through 360 degrees causes reciprocation of the movable frame assembly 306 between the full and broken line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 7.

'Ihe cross bars mount solenoids 384, there being a solenoid for each of the subareas or book magazines. Each solenoid is provided with an armature 386 which mounts a pusher member 388 for vertical movement within a pair of guides 390-390 provided on the cross member. A Y

Each pusher plate 388 is provided on its forward face with a pair of grip pins 392. When the solenoid 384 is fle-energized, the associated pusher plate is in retracted position, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 8 whereby, during reciprocation of the movable frame assembly, it will pass under the lowermost book of the associated stack. However, when the solenoid is energized, the pusher plate is moved to a projected or raised position, as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 8, whereby during forward movement of the movable frame assembly, it will engage the lowermost book of the associated stack, as it passes between the associated transverse angles 336-338, the pins 392 gripping the book and moving it forwardly to eject the book from the stack. The ejected book falls through the open end 150 of the associated transparent cover onto the associated shelf 346, as shown in broken line in FIG. 8.

FIG. 1l illustrates a circuit wiring diagram of the apparatus which is more specifically disclosed in FIGS. 6 to 10 inclusive.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 12 in detail, there is illustrated in FIG. 11 a schematic wiring diagram for the article or book vending apparatus 300. As here shown, the electrical components are supplied from a suitable AJC. source or network 500A through main busses or power lines 501 and 502 when the ganged main switches 500 are closed. Closing said switches energizes a lamp 500B for lighting up the apparatus 300 and'for delivering current to the primary winding 503A of a transformer 503, both of which are connected across the aforesaid power lines. In addition, closing switches 500 also energize a conventional coin mechanism 550 (FIG. 12) which is connected across the power lines, as indicated by the reference numeral 520.

The apparatus is now set up for operation upon insertion of a coin in coin slot 520 to operate a conventional coin totalizer 521 which in the present embodiment operates, in ve cent increments, in response to total deposits of twenty-tive cents, thirty-tive cents and fty cents. Upon deposit of `a total of twenty-five cents, switch 506 in the totalizer is closed. Upon deposit of thirty-tive cents, switch 504 in the totalizer is closed and upon ldeposit of lifty cents, switch 505 is closed.

The closing of switch 504 does not change the condition of the previously closed switch 506. Similarly, the

`closing of switch 505 does not change the condition of the previously closed switch 504. The totalizer switches are all connected at one side thereof to one terminal of the secondary winding 503B of the transformer 503 by line 522. The other sides of the totalizer switches are connected to price selector busses 510, 511 and 512, respectively, of a selector mechanism 555. Consequently,

`it will be apparent that each price selector buss is energized by the secondary winding 503B in response to the closing of the associated coin totalizer switch.`

In the present embodiment, the customer can select to make his purchase, for example, from forty different 'book display and delivery assemblies 144. A blade switch 513 is associated with each assembly. 'I'hree of said blade switches 513 are illustrated in the drawing, it being understood however that thereis a total of forty such blade switches in the present selector mechanism 555. The blade switches are normally open but the pressing of a front panel push button 553 by the customer closes a selected one of said forty blade switches 513. This selection is made by the movement, by the customer, of said push button 553 along a numbered track 554, there being a number for each assembly 144. When the button is depressed at the customer selected position, the associated blade switch is closed.

In addition to a. blade switch 513 for each assembly 144, provision is also made for a price selector plug for each assembly. Consequently, in the present embodiment, provision is made for forty price selector plugs of which three only are illustrated at 507, 508 and 509, respectively. Each plug is positioned by the customer in accordance with the cost of the book he Wishes to purchase. In this connection, each of the three coin selector busses 510, 511 and 512, is provided With a contact point for each assembly 144 adapted Iror engagement by the associated price selector plug. Such contact points are indicated at 510A, 511A and 512A for the busses 510, 511 and 512, respectively.

As previously indicated, a vend or delivery solenoid 156 and a load or feed solenoid 384 are associated with each stack of books B. Said solenoids are connected in parallel between a lead 523 and an associated blade switch 513. Lead 523 is connected through a normally closed carri? operated switch 514 and a relay solenoid 516 to a lead 524 connected to the other terminal of secondary winding 503B. Consequently, with a price selector plug positioned in engagement with an associated contact point 510A, 511A or 512A, and with a sullicient deposit of coins to close the associated switch 506, 504 or 505, the associated price selector buss 510, 511 or 512 is energized and upon closing of `a blade switch by the customer, an energizing circuit for the associated vend and load relays 156 and 384 is completed through switch 514 and solenoid 516 across the secondary winding 503B.

Resistor 515 acts as a shunt for solenoid 516. Ener- Agization of solenoid 516 closes its normally open contacts 518, and with coin switch 506 closed by the minimum insertion of twenty-live cents, a pointer delay solenoid 517 is also energized to retain the push button 553 in operated position. The energization of solenoid 516 also closes another set of its contacts 525 whereupon an energizing circuit through closed switch 506 is completed for a `control relay 526. Energization of the latter closes its contacts 527 to provide a holding circuit therefor. Energization of solenoid 526 results in the opening of its normally closed contacts which are connected between the power line 501 and a coin return switch (indicated at 551 and 552 in FIG. 12) in the conventional coin mechanism 520. This removes power from the coin return switch so as to prevent operation of the conventional coin return device (551, 552) of the coin mechanism 550, 520 by the customer during the operating cycle of the book vending apparatus 300.

Upon energization of vend solenoid 156, its associated -swingable cover 148 is opened, as previously explained, to

permit the heretofore still retained book to be released and to drop out for delivery.

Upon energization of a load solenoid 384, the movement of the carriage causes the lowest book in the stack associated with the assembly 144 from which a delivery had been made, be moved from the stack onto the platform 348.

Energization of the control relay 526 also closes its normally open contacts in circuit with a motor control relay 530 for energizing the latter. Whereupon its normally open contacts 531 are closed so as to complete an energizing circuit for the drive motor 372 across the power lines 501 and 502. The motor drives both cams 532 and 533. Upon rotation of cam 532 for 750 degrees, the normally closed cam switch 514 opens. Whereupon the vend solenoid 156, the load solenoid 384 and the control solenoid 516 are all de-energized. The book clamping pins 392 hold the load solenoid armature 386 in mechanically elevated position until the lowest book in the stack has been ejected therefrom. This insures a continuation of load function after the load solenoid is de-energized. De-energization of solenoid 516 opens its contacts 518 whereupon the pointer delay solenoid S17 is de-energized and frees the front pointer for subsequent operational movement. The cam switch 514 remains open for the balance of the operative cycle so that the entire front panel selector system is rendered inoperative.

A normally open cam switch 534, in parallel with relay contacts 529, is closed at thirty degrees rotation of cam 533 and operates as a holding circuit switch for the motor control relay 530 whereby the motor 372 continues to be energized for the balance of the operating cycle.

Upon delivery of a book from an assembly M4, a trip switch 535 is momentarily closed by movement of the book itself. Momentary closing of switch 535 energizes a relay solenoid 536 through closed relay contacts 531 and closes its own holding contacts 537 in parallel with switch 535. If for any reason a book is not delivered by the apparatus 300, as for example if insufficient money is deposited therein, or the assembly 144 is empty, or there is an apparatus malfunction, relay 536 is not energized because trip switch 535 is not actuated. At 180 rotation of cam 533, the normally open cam switch 533 is operated and closes. If relay 536 has been energized, its normally open contact 539 is closed, so that with cam switch 538 closed, the lead 540 is energized. Lead 540 supplies power to` a conventional coin collect solenoid (not illustrated) in the coin mechanism 520 so as to deposit in the cash box in the apparatus, the coins inserted by the customer.

If, however, relay solenoid 536 is not energized, its normally closed contacts 541 remain closed and, upon closing of the cam switch 538, power is applied through lead 542 to a conventional coin return solenoid (not illustrated) in the coin mechanism, is energized to return the coins inserted by the customer. Operation of either the coin collect or the coin return solenoid in the coin mechanism resets all the switches in the coin totalizer 521, in a conventional manner. Resetting of switch 506 to its open condition results in the de-energization of the control relay solenoid A526. At 210 rotation of cam S33, cam switch 538 opens and thereby removes power from either the coin collect or the coin return solenoid. The motor 372 continues to operate until cam switch 534 opens after 360 rotation of cam 53-3 because motor control relay 530 remains energized through closed cam switch 534.

Various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modilications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing device for articles such as books comprising a plurality of means for supporting a plurality of such articles in a plurality of vertically arranged stacks, said stacks being laterally and vertically adjacent, a transparent substantially vertical display lwindow laterally spaced from said plurality of supporting means, an inclined display plate adjacent each of said supporting means for each stack of articles disposed to receive articles from the corresponding supporting means for each stack and located for viewing the articles through said display window, means to retain the articles on said display plate in a position for viewing, a delivery chute located below said display plates in a position to receive articles released therefrom, ejector means for each of said plurality of said supporting means to move an article ol said stack onto said display plate, article releasing means connected to each of said retaining means effective to move said retaining means relatively to said display plate to permit `sliding release of an article downwardly under the influence of gravity from said display plate, and selector means connected to each of said ejector means and said releasing means to selectively activate said releasing means and said ejecting means whereby to release said articles from said plate to said chute and eject an article from the adjacent vertically arranged stack onto said display plate.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said display plate extends downwardly at an angle from the lowermost article in the stack and is located between said article and said display window.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of means for supporting said plurality of articles includes a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows of inclined display plates.

4. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said ejector means includes a reciprocatable pusher member, means for mounting said reciprocatable pusher member for movement between positions in alignment with and out of alignment, with said stacks, and means on said pusher member deiiectable upon movement of said pusher member in one direction away from said stacks and cngageable with the end article of said stacks upon movement in an opposite direction to discharge it onto said display plate.

5. A dispensing device according -to claim 4, wherein said ejector means includes a crank member having a crank arm portion connected to said pusher member to reciprocate said pusher member.

6. A dispensing device according to claim l, wherein said ejector means includes a reciprocatable plate associated with each of said plurality of supporting means, and means to reciprocate said plates including detent means releasably engageable with said plates, and control means to selectively engage and release said detent means -from said plates whereby to selectively reciprocate or prevent reciprocation of said plate as said reciprocating means is operative.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said ejector means includes a laterally reciprocatable plate member disposed beneath each of said means for supporting a plurality of said articles, a pusher finger pivotally mounted on said plate, means to bias said pusher ringer to an upright position, said pusher tinger being deflectable by the lowermost article upon movement of said plate in one direction ybut being engageable with said article to move said article out of said stack upon movement of said plate in an opposite direction, and means to reciprocate said plate.

8. .A dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein said means to reciprocate said plate includes a detent member pivotally mounted at one end adjacent said plate and having a detent portion at its opposite end engageable with said plate, and a crank member pivotally connected to said detent member to reciprocate said detent member, and means to selectively engage and disengage said detent member from said plate.

9. A dispensing device for articles such as books comprising a plurality of means for supporting a plurality of such articles in vertically arranged laterally and vertically adjacent stacks, a transparent substantially vertical display window laterally spaced from said plurality of supporting means, an inclined display plate adjacent each of said supporting means disposed to receive articles from the associated supporting means and located for viewing the articles through said display Window, means to retain the articles on said display plate in a position for viewing, a delivery chute located below said display plates in a position to receive articles released therefrom, ejector means associated with each of said plurality of said supporting means including means to move an article olf said stack onto said display plate, article releasing means connected to each of said retaining means permitting sliding release of -an article downwardly under the influence of gravity from Vsaid display plate, and selector means connected to each of said ejector means and said releasing means to selectively activate said releasing means and -said ejector means whereby to release said articles from said plate to said chute and eject an article from the adjacent vertically arranged stacks onto said display plate, said retaining means includes a transparent cover member pivotally connected at one end `and including an opposite end movable between a position holding the article on said display plate against downward sliding movement to a position releasing said article therefrom.

10. A dispensing device for article such as books cornprising a plurality of means for supporting a plurality of such articles in vertically arranged laterally and vertically adjacent stacks, a transparent substantially vertical display window laterally spaced from said plurality of supporting means, an inclined display plate adjacent each of said supporting means disposed to receive articles from the associated supporting means and located for viewing the articles through said display window, means to retain the articles on said display plate in a position for viewing, a delivery chute located below said display plates in a position to receive articles released therefrom, ejector means associated with each of said plurality of said supporting means including means to move an article oil said stack onto said display plate, article releasing means connected to each of said retaining means permitting sliding release of an article downwardly under the iniluence of gravity from said display plate, and selector means connected to each of said ejector means and said releasing means to selectively activate said releasing means and said ejector means whereby to release said articles from said plate to said chute and eject an article from the adjacent vertically arranged stacks onto said display plate, said retaining means including a transparent cover member having a lower end holding an article on said display plate and being pivotally mounted on its opposite end, and means to selectively pivot said cover member to move the opposite end thereof away from said display plate to permit sliding oi of an article from said display plate.

11. A dispensing device for articles such as books comprising a plurality of means for supporting a plurality of such articles in a plurality of vertically arranged stacks, said stacks being laterally and vertically adjacent, a transparent substantially vertical display window laterally spaced from lsaid plurality of supporting means, an inclined display plate adjacent each of said supporting means for each stack of articles disposed to receive articles from the `corresponding supporting means for each stack and located for viewing the articles through said display window, means to retain the articles on said display plate in a position for viewing, a delivery chute located below said display plates in a position to receive articles released therefrom, ejector means for each of said plurality of said supporting means to move an article off said stack onto said display plate, article releasing means connected to each of said retaining means permitting sliding release of an article downwardly under the influence of gravity from said display plate, and selector means connected to each `of said ejector means and said releasing means to selectively activate said releasing means and said ejector means whereby to release said articles from said plate to said chute and eject an article from the adjacent vertically arranged stacks onto said display plate, including means to render said ejector means ineffective when an article is already on said display plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,557y Hower et al. Mar. 30, 1909 2,223,515 Gebert et al Dec. 3, 1940 2,524,673 Martin Oct. 3, 1950 2,590,736 Tandler et al. Mar. 25, 195'2 2,634,185l Wilder Apr. 7, 1953 2,681,842 Rabkin et al June 22, 1954 2,834,512 Fry May 13, 1958 2,872,009 Ridings et al. Feb. 3, 1959 

